Federal Communications Commission

News about Federal Communications Commission, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Mar. 31, 2015

Federal Communications Commission, after years of complaints from prison-rights groups and families of prisoners, is investigating prison phone system, which has mostly been unregulated; hundreds of millions of dollars in concession fees help drive phone charges as high as $1.22 per minute, compared with typical commercial rates of 4 cents a minute. MORE

Mar. 17, 2015

Nine broadcasters request waiver from Federal Communications Commission on longstanding requirement that stations say on air when sponsor or promoter has paid for song or other programming; radio companies want to move disclosures online. MORE

Mar. 13, 2015

Federal Communications Commission unveils details of how it will regulate broadband Internet providers as public utility; new rules raise uncertainties about broad and subjective regulation that probably foretell lengthy legal challenges. MORE

Feb. 27, 2015

Federal Communications Commission votes 3-2 along party lines to regulate broadband Internet service as public utility; net neutrality rules are meant to ensure that no content is blocked and that Internet is not split into pay-to-play fast lanes for companies and slow lanes for others. MORE

Feb. 26, 2015

News Analysis; utility-style rules that Federal Communications Commission is expected to adopt to ensure net neutrality are best fit for current situation in United States, where most households only have one choice for high-speed Internet service; rules are intended to prevent broadband providers from abusing their market power. MORE

Feb. 25, 2015

Senior Republicans in Congress concede victory to Pres Obama over regulation of Internet service, with Federal Communications Commission expected to approve regulating it like public utility; regulation will prohibit companies from paying for faster lanes on Internet, upholding net neutrality. MORE

Feb. 7, 2015

Joe Nocera Op-Ed column asserts that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is right to reintroduce proposal to reclassify broadband Internet as telecommunication service, idea shot down in 2010; holds that government regulation is necessary in order to maintain net neutrality, and that reclassification is necessary for proper oversight. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

Editorial supports Federal Communications Commission decision to reclassify broadband Internet service as telecommunications service, opening way for regulations that ensure fair access to Internet; says move is necessary given growing importance of Internet access to individuals and businesses; rejects industry and Republican arguments that rules will stifle investment and argues that they may instead help innovation flourish. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler unveils proposal for treating Internet service as public utility, form of regulation that Wheeler describes as best path to net neutrality; proposal includes provision for protection of consumer privacy and ensuring access for all; plan is far bolder and more comprehensive than analysts had expected. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Editorial criticizes Federal Trade Commission auction for wireless frequencies in which Dish Network could receive $3 billion in discounts on winning bids totaling about $13 billion; holds that auction is only the latest to make mockery of rules meant to help small, rural, female- and minority-owned businesses enter wireless business; calls on FCC and Congress to crack down on such abuses. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler is expected to propose regulating Internet service as telecommunications service, instead of an information service; move to treat service like public utility will almost certainly spark new debate and lobbying about how to guarantee so-called net neutrality. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Tom Wheeler, the F.C.C. chairman, will seek to invalidate state laws that limit community-owned Internet providers from expanding. The proposal focuses on North Carolina and Tennessee, but could affect many other states. MORE

Jan. 22, 2015

Hearings in Senate and House examine Republican proposal for so-called net neutrality rules that would regulate Internet instead of regulations that are set to be proposed by Federal Communications Commission in February. MORE

Jan. 20, 2015

Politics surrounding issue of net neutrality have shifted, with Republicans putting themselves on the side of cable giants; both House and Senate Republicans are assembling legislation ahead of February Federal Communication Commission meeting, hoping to block agency from issuing regulations that would achieve Obama administration's net neutrality goals. MORE

Jan. 18, 2015

Jeff Sommer Strategies column observes that stock market has defied collective wisdom in its reaction to impending tighter regulations on net neutrality for Internet carriers, with share prices of big cable companies continuing to rise; notes that the market itself seems unsure about impact of Federal Communications Commission's proposed rules for Internet carriers, which will be issued in February. MORE

Jan. 15, 2015

Pres Obama announces executive actions he will take to expand access to high-speed Internet and to make it cheaper; announcement comes in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he also calls on Federal Communications Commission to override state laws blocking communities from providing high-speed Internet access; telecommunications industry says Obama's actions amount to circumventing Congress and state lawmakers. MORE

Jan. 14, 2015

Pres Obama will call on Federal Communications Commission to to overrule state laws restricting competition among Internet service providers and preventing communities from expanding high-speed service into rural areas; changes are crucial to Obama's plan to allow for greater ISP innovation and to bring United States in line with other countries that have faster connections on average. MORE

Jan. 9, 2015

Editorial supports Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler's endorsement of proposal by Pres Obama that would reclassify broadband service as telecommunications service; holds that reclassification is important to Internet fairness, as it would stop big companies from establishing fast and slow lanes on Web; urges Wheeler to maintain his position and not to bow to industry or Republican pressure. MORE

Jan. 4, 2015

Editorial urges Federal Communications Commission to reject request by Marriott International and American Hotel and Lodging Assn to allow hotels to disable devices that allow guests to use cellular networks to connect to Internet; argues it is clearly attempt by hotels to compel guests to pay for access to wireless Internet service and will unacceptably limit customer choice. MORE

Jan. 3, 2015

Federal Communications Commission says its five members are expected to consider proposal from Chairman Tom Wheeler on net neutrality rules in February. MORE

Dec. 18, 2014

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sues Sprint in Federal District Court, accusing company of operating billing system that allowed third parties to add unauthorized charges onto mobile phone bills; Federal Communications Commission is conducting similar investigation. MORE

Dec. 12, 2014

Federal Communications Commission increases financing for high-speed Internet programs for libraries and schools; E-Rate program will grow by $1.5 billion to spending cap of $3.9 billion. MORE

Dec. 8, 2014

NAACP, National Urban League and Rainbow/PUSH Coalition say Pres Obama's push to regulate Internet access will hurt minority communities, but other civil rights groups back treating Internet access as an essential service; debate is part of major campaign to lobby Federal Communications Commission as it considers net neutrality. MORE

Dec. 1, 2014

Editorial holds soaring bids in the Federal Communication Commission's auction of wireless frequencies present strong evidence that the telecommunications industry is thriving, despite widespread complaints about regulation; calls on government to continue its regulatory push and to act decisively to ensure that the spectrum is used efficiently. MORE

Nov. 24, 2014

Federal Communications Commission auction of airwaves for use in mobile broadband becomes biggest auction in agency's history, reaching more than $34 billion and far surpassing presale expectations; auction is signal that wireless companies expect demand for Internet access by smartphones to continue to soar. MORE

Nov. 23, 2014

Editorial supports proposal from Federal Communications Commission head Tom Wheeler that would implement modest tax on phone lines in order to fund upgraded, faster Internet connections for nation's schools and libraries; says average investment of about 48 cents per month per American household is well worth the benefit. MORE

Nov. 17, 2014

Federal Communications Chairman Tom Wheeler is expected to propose raising annual spending on high-speed Internet connections for schools and libraries by 62 percent, or $1.5 billion, to $3.9 billion. MORE

Nov. 15, 2014

Editorial contends Pres Obama's proposal to reclassify broadband Internet service as telecommunications service corrects classification error made by Federal Communications Commission in 2002; holds many assumptions held by FCC have proven false, and argues new proposal envisions Internet where service providers handle all content sent and received by consumers equally; urges FCC to heed Obama's request. MORE

Nov. 15, 2014

Joe Nocera Op-Ed column laments difficulty government is facing in achieving deal on net neutrality, despite fact that most consumers, Internet companies and service providers support it; submits root of issue lies in debate over what parts of 1996 Telecommunications Act should be used to regulate Internet providers; suggests that allowing Federal Communications Commission to write new rules may be best option. MORE

Nov. 13, 2014

Challenge facing Tom Wheeler, chairman of Federal Communications Commission, to shape rules for open Internet only grew after Pres Obama spoke out on issue; people who have met with Wheeler since those comments say he has been defensive and angry that he might be seen as political pawn instead of head of an independent agency. MORE

Nov. 12, 2014

Eduardo Porter Economic Scene column observes after Pres Obama urged Federal Communications Commission to set tougher net neutrality rules, questions loom about decreased competition and cost of monitoring; contends that in absence of more broadband competition, monitoring is needed by regulators, but it should be performed at least possible cost. MORE

Nov. 12, 2014

Pres Obama's call for net neutrality sets up fight over Federal Communications Commission rules; everyone agrees that some rules written to regulate telephone service should not apply to the Internet but there are disagreements about what rules should survive. MORE

Nov. 11, 2014

Pres Obama, in his most direct effort yet to influence debate about Internet's future, says free and open Internet is as critical to Americans' lives as electricity and telephone service; says Federal Communications Commission needs to adopt strictest rules possible to prevent broadband companies from blocking or intentionally slowing down legal content and from allowing content providers to pay for fast lane to reach customers. MORE

Nov. 9, 2014

Editorial contends problems facing Federal Communications Commission over how to regulate Internet are result of its classifying cable and phone-based broadband as information services, rather than telecommunications services; expresses support for hybrid approach that would regulate high-speed Internet service in two parts, but warns that such an approach could be promising only if done right. MORE

Nov. 1, 2014

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler and staff are moving toward proposal that would give agency regulatory authority over how Internet traffic flows between content providers and Internet service companies; proposal is part of hybrid solution that has gained favor at FCC over last two months. MORE

Oct. 25, 2014

Federal Communications Commission says that it will postpone until early 2016 a planned auction of airwaves now used by broadcast television stations for use by mobile phone companies. MORE

Oct. 1, 2014

Federal Communications Commission votes to eliminate its sports blackout rule; National Football League had argued that ending the rule would endanger the availability of games on free television, but the commission said that is unlikely. MORE

Sep. 30, 2014

Federal Communications Commission appears ready to loosen sports blackout rule on football games; if commission votes to strikes down restrictions, cable and satellite providers could show games even if they are not sold out, upsetting the National Football League. MORE

Sep. 29, 2014

Policy most likely to define Tom Wheeler's time as chairman of Federal Communications Commission is net neutrality, which has generated more public interest than any other issue; Wheeler has established record as formidable opponent of industries he used to represent as lobbyist. MORE

Sep. 5, 2014

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler says agency will work to promote greater competition among providers of high-speed Internet service, but that it will stop short of seeking greater regulation; notes overwhelming majority of Americans lack real choice in providers. MORE

Aug. 14, 2014

Editorial supports Pres Obama's opposition to deals between telecommunication companies and firms like Netflix and Amazon that would allow for faster delivery of video and other data to customers; agrees with Obama's assertion that such deals could stifle business and free communication; suggests FCC reclassify broadband Internet service as a telecommunications service, which would prevent big companies from engaging in unjust or unreasonable discrimination against content. MORE

Jul. 16, 2014

Federal Communications Commission receives about 780,000 comments on its rules to secure open Internet; sampling of comments posted on commission's website is heavily weighted toward urging it to take strong action to preserve net neutrality. MORE

Jun. 16, 2014

Public television officials warn that Federal Communications Commission's planned auction of wireless spectrum could leave parts of country without over-the-air access to public television; auction is intended to free airwaves for use by wireless broadband companies. MORE

Jun. 14, 2014

Federal Communications Commission opens investigation into deal where entertainment companies like Netflix have agreed to pay Internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon for faster video delivery; critics contend practice will divide Internet into fast and slow lanes. MORE

Jun. 11, 2014

Federal Communications Commission officials say that chairman Tom Wheeler is planning to offer his fellow commissioners proposed regulatory change to promote Wi-Fi in schools; FCC is currently bound by rules governing a program that subsidizes installation of high-speed Internet connections at schools. MORE

Nine broadcasters have asked the Federal Communications Commission to waive the longstanding requirement that stations say on the air when a sponsor or promoter has paid for a song or other programming.